Howard McCabe Cooley Obituary

Howard McCabe Cooley, 81, of Brookings, died Oct. 3, 2002, at Sutter Coast
Hospital in Crescent City of natural causes.

Mr. Cooley was born Jan. 9, 1921, in San Francisco to McCabe and Marie
(Hennequin) Cooley.

He was an Eagle Scout in his youth and at the age of 18, enlisted in the
U.S. Navy. Prior to World War II, he served on the battleship USS
Pennsylvania. During the war, he was assigned to a destroyer in the
Caribbean which conducted search and destroy missions against German
U-boats.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Mr. Cooley worked more
than 30 years as an aircraft mechanic. He worked for several companies
during his career, including Hiller Helicopter.

In the 1980s he married Bonnie Schreck in Garden Grove, Calif., and they
made their home in Brookings for the last 19 years. His wife preceded him
in death earlier this year.

He enjoyed big band music. In the 1930s, he organized his own band, and
played in the 1980s as a member of a small band he Brookings. He enjoyed
hiking, backpacking, and especially Yosemite National Park. He also enjoyed
the beach.

As a founding member of the Chetco Senior Center, Mr. Cooley was active
in helping make the center a reality. He was a member of the Brookings Elks
Lodge, Battleship Club and Hiking Club.

Survivors include a daughter, Marie Ryan of Pleasanton; three sons,
Claude Cooley and his wife Val of Fremont; Howard Cooley of San Jose and
Clifford Cooley and his wife Darlene of Newark; a brother, Jack Cooley of
Merlin; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Redwood Memorial
Chapel.

A memorial service is planned in November and will be announced at a
later date.